Phulan Rani, in a tête-à-tête with Varinder Walia, talks about her life and artistic ventures, and shares interesting nuggets
about artists

S.G Thakur Singh made an
illustration on the collapse of the British system of slavery
for the title page of Kirti, a paper, then edited by Shaheed
Bhagat Singh and Com Sohan Singh Josh”.

Phulan Rani, when she is not busy painting, plays billiards with her grandson

Markets around Darbar Sahib
The Harmandar Sahib housed numerous markets around its periphery. These markets were known for offering quality goods. These bazaars were completely dependent on the Sikh shrine for their business.

New Principal
Dr Vimal Sikri, with over 25 years of teaching experience, took over as the Principal, Punjab Government Dental College and Hospital, here last week.

My City
Blend of tradition and modernity
Since the founding of the city by Guru Ram Das, the Holy City has undergone many changes. Though it never became a centre of power in the traditional sense, it has remained as the power influencing various rulers of different times.

Dhab Khatika through the prism of time
Amritsar, commonly known as “Sifti da Ghar”, is a dwelling place of people of various cultures, castes, communities and creeds.
The British ruled this place for more than a hundred years. Many battles were
fought on this land, but this city never lost its originality and vibrancy.

Hindu Sabha School which was set up in the thirties at Dhab Khatika.
Photo by Rajiv Sharma

A centre for values
The Spiritual and Cultural Heritage Centre (SACH Centre) by the Kes Sambhal Prachar Sanstha, Amritsar, aims to inculcate cultural and spiritual values, besides providing value-based education to young children.

Reproductive tourism
The availability of the state-of-the-art treatment could pave the way for a booming business of “Reproductive Tourism”, says Dr. S.S Chawla, Director, Satjot Human Reproduction and Research Centre, here.

Peaceniks from Paris
A three-member French peacenik team arrived here after passing through various European and Asian countries, covering a distance of 19000 km.
The leader of the team, Mr Clochon Ambroise (24), a mechanical engineer, talking
to the Tribune said that they had started their tour in September 2005 and after
travelling through north-west Africa, South America, Taiwan, Laos and China,
entered India through Nepal on July 9.

French peaceniks on world tour arrive in Amritsar on their
cycles. Photo by Rajiv Sharma

Tributes to cricketer Vijay Mehra
Vijay Mehra’s death has left former cricketers and lovers of the game in the city bereft. Old-timers fondly remember the exploits of one of the cricketing stalwarts produced by the city. Vijay Mehra (68) passed away in Delhi following a heart attack on August 25.

SEZ can spell doom for farmers
The much-hyped Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was criticised by Lok Morcha, an NGO. The NGO claimed that SEZ was “only a way to encourage real estate business”. This would benefit only rich businessmen and would ruin the already-suffering agricultural community, alleged the Lok Morcha office-bearers.

Vehicles run on LPG
In the city, many vehicles are being driven on LPG cylinders meant for domestic purposes. Besides endangering their own lives and those of others, the owners are flouting the rules laid down by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Encroachments dot the city
Encroachments by shopkeepers are common in the city. These encroachments prove to be a traffic hazard. Ramesh Kumar, resident of Katra Dullo, said that his street was hardly six to eight feet wide and four sweets shops were located in it.

Road to nightmares
Huge potholes on roads of Peer Shah and New Roop Nagar localities near Bhagtanwala are enough to give nightmares to commuters as well as residents, besides presenting a picture of complete apathy on part of authorities.

Camera watch for the city
After the law and order situation in the holy city was criticised by social and political organisations, the district police has decided to install close-circuit cameras at strategic points, including religious shrines and tourist spots.

SSP S.S. Srivastava

NRI organises eye camp
An eyesight testing and cataract surgery charitable camp was organised by Mr Harjit Singh Sidhu, an NRI and ex-chairman of the Market Committee of the village. Mr Sidhu is a kin of the famous Sikh warrior, Sardar Sham Singh Attari, who was a general in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

S.G Thakur Singh made an illustration on the collapse of the British system of slavery for the title page of Kirti, a paper, then edited by Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Com Sohan Singh Josh”. Many such interesting nuggets of information on art can be had from the octogenarian artist Phulan Rani. She is indeed a live-encyclopaedia of artists.

SG Thakur Singh, an admirer of Phulan Rani’s works, wrote in The Tribune on December 18, 1960, “Phulan Rani is Punjab’s well-known woman artist.” She started with pencil in 1945. She expressed the subtle and curious grace of the human form in linear patterns. Her prolific work has earned for her an exalted position in art.

Ms Poonam K. Sidhu, a senior IRS officer, while appreciating her works writes, “The depth and mystical touch of Phulan Rani’s brush has captured on canvas the very essence of various legends, parables and episodes that portray the lives of great Sikh Gurus.”

Portrait of a 15th century Sikh
Photos by Rajiv Sharma

Phulan Rani was born on December 12, 1923, in a well-to-do middle class family of Bombay Wala Khuh, Amritsar. Her father, a medical practitioner of good standing and popular figure in the city, was a very indulgent father and did everything possible to cater to the aspiration of his children. Finding in her a strong propensity for fine arts, particularly painting, he was always there for her art. To her good luck, her husband was also a person of literary taste and had special love for fine arts. He helped to realise the artist in her.

Her father-in-law Kartar Sing Bumra, too, had an interest in painting. After her marriage when Sardarni Phoolan Rani made a painting, Kartar Singh Bumra was much impressed with it and he encouraged her with a cash prize of Rs 100. He also presented her a book. One of her paintings “Nartaki” was awarded the first prize in the Academy of Fine Arts. The great artist Soba Singh, who invited her at the picturesque Kangra valley, also encouraged her.

In September 1970, she visited the European countries and organised concerts in the universities under the title “Indian Ragas (melodies) through Music and Paintings”. These concerts that reflected the beauty of Indian culture were widely acclaimed abroad. It was a unique experiment that earned her lot of applauds from the West. One such painting, “Mundavni, a Raga of evening”, is about separation from the loved one and pangs of sorrow that tear the heart apart. Another painting “Bageshwari, the Raga of the night” symbolises the inborn longing of the soul to meet the eternal beloved like the yearning of the river to meet the sea.

While S.G. Thakur Singh who was born in 1899 at Verka, a suburban of Amritsar, had set up the Indian Academy of Fine Arts in 1931, Phulan Rani created her Arts Gallery in her palatial house in Ranjit Avenue spread over two acres. The land was allotted by the Beant Singh government in recognition to her contribution in the field of art.

As soon as you enter the Hall of Art Gallery you see the scenic beauty of Kangra Valley painted in water colour, Punjab folk life, Sohni, Mirza Sahiban, Shereen Farhad, Laila Majnu, Heer Ranjha. The Art Gallery is the only museum in a house that has the largest collections of paintings and portraits of great writers like Bhai Vir Singh, poets like Prof Mohan Singh, artists like Amrita Sher Gill. It is acclaimed to be the only individual collection in India to have a mix of 500 miniature paintings of all the major schools of art — Pahari, Mughal, Chugtai, Bengal School of Art, Sikh Art.

While S.G. Thakur Singh never had proper education owing to family circumstances, Phulan Rani did her Masters in English literature and authored more than 200 books, especially for children, with the cooperation of her late husband Shamsher Singh, a poet himself. She claims that SG Thakur Singh was a regular visitor to her house. She describes SG Thakur Singh as “a darvesh”, and Sobha Singh, as “a great master of colours”.

Both SG Thakur Singh and Phulan Rani brought Amritsar on the international map of art. After the death of SG Thakur Singh on February 2nd, 1976, Phulan Rani has been carrying aloft the flame of art even at the age of 83. She has an amazing zest for life. She exercises for more than an hour and this gives her lot of energy. She does not forget to play billiard with her grandson Gurkirat Singh every morning!

The then President of India, Mr V.V. Giri, presented her “Sardar Mohan Singh Book Award” for distinguished work on Guru Nanak on October 23, 1970. Her book of painting titled, “Life of Guru Nanak through pictures” has been adjudged as one of the best books on the first Sikh Master. The book has since been translated into English Braille for the benefit of the visually handicapped and it has been distributed free all over the world.

In the latest issue of “The Northern Virginia Review” Constance Elsberg described Phulan Rani as an internationally-renowned woman artist. In the article, “A deeper reality: on the Punjabi painter Phulan Rani”, he writes, “I see the pieces of her life fitting together: her daughter’s music inspired her to paint interpretations of the Ragas they played on their instruments; her teaching led her to illustrate books for children; her love of stories led her both to paint scenes from Punjabi legends and to have children’s books translated. She agrees and adds that everything she does feeds her painting: art is a composite form of so many varied things that you feel and see all around you.”

At the time when Phulan visited Shantiniketan, she and her husband had just fled from Quetta in the wake of the violence associated with Partition. Phulan Rani, while very much aware of the sufferings created by Partition, never chose to depict those.

The Harmandar Sahib housed numerous markets around its periphery. These markets were known for offering quality goods. These bazaars were completely dependent on the Sikh shrine for their business.

The bazaars, which earned popularity during those times, were Jhootha Bazaar, Kathiya Bazaar and Mai Sewan Bazaar.

One of the markets came to be known as the Jhootha Bazaar because it was believed that everything else was materialistic and hence ephemeral, the real beauty was “Sachkhand” — Golden Temple.

The Jhootha Bazaar started in the sixteenth century and had a very narrow lane.

Another famous bazaar was the Kathiya Wala Bazaar, which was located in the backdrop of Akal Takht.

The market was started in 1620 just after Guru Hargobind Singh had passed an edict (hukumnama) to bring horses and weapons as offerings.

The Mai Sewan Bazaar started early in Ranjit Singh’s period.

It was Maharaja Ranjit Singh who dedicated this bazaar to a lady named Mai Sewan, who very sincerely did “seva”, which means service, in Harmandar Sahib. She was the wife of a military commander Fateh Singh Kaaliawaala.

The area of the Mai Sewan Bazaar was 400 square feet.

The Jhootha Bazaar was popular among women for embroidery, lace work, Punjabi jutis, artificial jewellery, whereas the Khatiya Bazaar sold leather goods.

The Mai Sewan Bazaar had shops of drafting material. It used to have four printing presses, sweets shops and bookshops.

The Mai Sewan Bazaar even had a Haathi Khaana where Maharaja Ranjit Singh used to keep his elephant during his visit to the Golden Temple.

Today the markets that exist, though not with the same flourish, are the Mai Sewan Bazaar and the Kathiya Wala Bazaar. In fact, these markets ‘exist more in name’ in the sense that the old name has been retained, but the markets have registered numerous changes.

The Mai Sewan Wala Bazaar has Udasin Akhaara, Sangal Wala Akhara started by Guru Nanak’s son Sri Chand, and its present head is Mahant Ananta Nand. One can still visit Darshani Deodhi Gurdwara.

The residence of the Mahant of the Golden Temple, which was given by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, got demolished some years ago.

With it was also lost the building that had an archaeological value. Now an NRI serai is being constructed at that place.

The Kathiya Wala Bazaar has become the market of paints, sanitary fittings and hardware goods.

Dr Vimal Sikri, with over 25 years of teaching experience, took over as the Principal, Punjab Government Dental College and Hospital, here last week.

Earlier, he had been the Head of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics.

He is credited to have penned three books on dentistry. He has the distinction of being the only dental teacher having completed diploma in examination system with distinction. He stood first in diploma in Office Management.

He said that his priority would be to encourage research work among students by providing adequate funds and conducive environment. He said that a special cell for senior citizens would be opened in the hospital. He said that they would associate with the local schools that were imparting education to economically weaker children, mentally retarded and physically disabled students.

He informed that a Geriatric Clinic (to take care of the needs of the elderly) would be opened in the hospital for the early check-up of senior citizens.

Ganesh Chaturthi that began this Sunday may be a festival of the Marathas it has a following in the city too.

Not only is the festival being celebrated with fanfare at some parts including Kartarpur since Sunday, artistes making Ganesh idols can be seen selling these at the Rama Mandi Chowk here. Sarwan, an artiste from Rajasthan, has been in the city for the last one week, making and selling these idols.

Carving these out of jute and Plaster of Paris, he has displayed a few idols near the roundabout on the pavement just outside the cantonment.

He said these had then been painted with waterproof colours and glitter.

Sarvan’s father, Jeewan Ram, said he had been making idols for five decades now.

Passing on his skill to his son, he said together they had shifted their business to Chandigarh few years back from where they had brought a few idols here since the last one week.

He said he had been making idols of Lord Shiva, Lord Krishna or as desired by the customers.

The father-son duo said the customers coming to him were not just Marathis but also Punjabis.

He said he was selling three to four feet-high idols for Rs 1,500 to 2,000. With three days of the festival already over, he said the festivities would be on for another week after which they would be back to Chandigarh preparing for festivals ahead.

Since the founding of the city by Guru Ram Das, the Holy City has undergone many changes. Though it never became a centre of power in the traditional sense, it has remained as the power influencing various rulers of different times.

Recognised as the world-famous centre of Sikh sovereignty, it has come to enjoy the status of the Vatican City of Sikhs, and the whole world recognises its dignified status.

Amritsar is already on the aviation map and hence needs no introduction. The city has become a tourist spot, and tour-packages find route to his city from every part of the globe. It has established its recognition as a religious centre and also a centre of business, education and horticulture.

Special attention from the Central and the state governments has brought about some noticeable changes in the city. To control the increasing rush, elevated roads have begun to be constructed.

Monkey has a cold drink

The Municipal Corporation authorities should try to make the city a symbol of cleanliness. It is a pleasure to watch government and non-government agencies vie with one another to make the city beautiful. Elected representatives have an added responsibility that they are now carrying out to their utmost capacity.

The Maharaja Ranjit Singh Panorama, we expect, would add to the beauty of the city.

It will now be convenient for the public to visit and witness different aspects of the great events of the glorious era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In due course, many new features would hopefully be added to enhance the beauty and grandeur of Amritsar.

On the academic side also, the city has much to offer. Guru Nanak Dev University has the distinction of offering courses that are rarely found in any other university. Recognising the value of genetic research, the Governor has appointed Dr Jag Rup Singh as the Vice-Chancellor of the varsity.

Amritsar, commonly known as “Sifti da Ghar”, is a dwelling place of people of various cultures, castes, communities and creeds.

The British ruled this place for more than a hundred years. Many battles were fought on this land, but this city never lost its originality and vibrancy.

Amritsar comprises many areas that are very old like Guru Bazaar, Bambay Wala Khoo and many more. Dhab Khatika is one such old area.

“Dhab” means a shelter for cows, buffaloes. “Khatika” comes from the word “Khatik” that means a particular caste that used to live there. They used to live in a “dhab” and clean, wash and colour the skin of dead animals in the “dhab”, and later make leather out of the skin. This leather was used for making beautiful juttis and shoes.

Interestingly, Hindu Sabha College was established on this “dhab” in the year 1926.

During the British era, this area was just a barren place with a “dhab” and a few jhuggis where Khatiks used to live.

But now the scene has totally changed, as the area is thickly populated. People of all castes live here in harmony.

Many buildings, educational institutes and business establishments mushroomed here with the passage of time. With the construction of Hindu Sabha College, the demography of the area changed.

Hindu Sabha School was also constructed here.

In late thirties, the place became famous for its schools — Hindu Sabha School, Ajanta School, Tagore School, Arun-Rashmi School, Saraswati DAV Girls Senior Secondary School.

Many old shops of the British period still exist here. Bindhari Hospital, Ladies’ Hospital constructed by the British, Vaid Jagat Singh and Parshotam Singh Shop, Ahuja Sweets, Ganga Ram Shivala are a few old buildings here.

An old post office constructed during the British period also stands in one corner.

During the British period, beautiful buildings with fine carving and exotic work of architecture were constructed.

It is said that British these buildings were frequented by British men and women.

Today, these buildings have been converted into houses or shops. Many changes, both perceptible and imperceptible, have taken place.

However, the charm of this place is intact. Dhab Khatika is a beautiful reminder of the days of the yore! It is the reminder of an altogether different era. It is also a reminder of how things change.

The sanstha, was established as a trust in July 1997 at Amritsar by Mr S.J.S. Pall, IRS (retd). The Amritsar unit is headed by Dr Bhupinder Singh.

Guru Nanak Dev University has granted it a seat in the Senate. Units in Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Delhi are led by Advocate Daljit Singh Chhabra, Mr D.S. Juneja and Major Kuldeep Singh Bhasin, respectively.

The sanstha aims to propagate tenets of the Sikh Gurus and Hindu and Muslim saints.

English speaking and personality development courses will also be on offer.

People can avail the benefit of consulting and guidance on legal matters, family affairs, including matrimonial matters, and medical advice, particularly on physiotherapy and de-addiction.

Translation of Sikh scriptures in various languages will be one of the projects. It will also provide training in the art of turban tying and kirtan. Objects of Punjabi life and culture, paintings and sculptures will be on display
at "Virsa Hall’.

All is not well around the sanstha, however. There are certain issues that need to be given attention.

Garbage collected from the city is dumped next to the centre.

The foul smell makes it difficult for the residents of the area to breathe. This is one of the most prtessing problems.

Repeated
attempts by the sanstha have failed to evoke any response from the local administration.

Promoters of the sanstha said the centre was facing acute shortage of funds, and hoped that philanthropists would come forward to help.

The availability of the state-of-the-art treatment could pave the way for a booming business of “Reproductive Tourism”, says Dr. S.S Chawla, Director, Satjot Human Reproduction and Research Centre, here.

He said that the reproductive procedure cost comparatively less here than what it cost in the developed countries. And the quality of the treatment was at par with that offered in the developed nations.

He said it cost around Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh in the northern states and about Rs 2 lakh in the clinics in the metros, while the same operation cost Rs 8 lakh to Rs 10 lakh in the developed countries.

Dr Chawla further emphasised that it was logical for NRIs settled in the West to prefer their native country for infertility treatment, especially when it came to the third-party reproduction.

A three-member French peacenik team arrived here after passing through various European and Asian countries, covering a distance of 19000 km.

The leader of the team, Mr Clochon Ambroise (24), a mechanical engineer, talking to the Tribune said that they had started their tour in September 2005 and after travelling through north-west Africa, South America, Taiwan, Laos and China, entered India through Nepal on July 9. The other members of the team are Mr Albahary Benoit (24) and Mr Bedhet Guillaume (27), a mechanical engineer and a dentist, respectively.

Mr Ambroise said their main aim was to tour the world, meet various people of the European and Asian countries, and spread the message of peace. He said the people in India were very cooperative and whenever they stopped for taking lunch, the people gathered around their specially-designed 24-gear bicycle.

He said that on an average they covered 100 km daily and spent $ 5 a day on boarding, lodging and meals.

Talking about the Indian food, they said that they were delighted to taste various dishes during their two-week journey in the country, but avoided red chillies used in vegetables and other items.

Mr Benoit said they would visit the Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple and other places of historical importance, and after staying there for two days would move to Pakistan through Wagah Joint Check Post. From there, they would move to Iran and France. He said it would take them another three months to complete the tour.

Mr Joginder Singh Neki and Mr Onkar Singh Sandhu, social workers and philanthropists, welcomed the team and made arrangement for their boarding and lodging in the city.

Vijay Mehra’s death has left former cricketers and lovers of the game in the city bereft. Old-timers fondly remember the exploits of one of the cricketing stalwarts produced by the city. Vijay Mehra (68) passed away in Delhi following a heart attack on August 25.

Born and brought up in Amritsar, he shot to prominence when he got a call to wear India colours against New Zealand at Bombay in 1955-56 even before he had celebrated his 18th birthday.

He had a limited range of strokes but never shied from rising deliveries. With great pluck and verve he punished them. His international career never got going fully, as he played at the highest level in fits and starts.

He played only eight Tests, scoring 329 runs at an average of 25.30. After his debut match, Vijay returned to the international arena after seven years, as he could not maintain the momentum.

He returned against England at Calcutta in 1961-62 but failed to grab the chance offered by the selectors. He was dropped after that, sitting out the next two matches.

Fate intervened for Vijay and a near-fatal injury to skipper Nari Contractor led to his inclusion in the squad. Making optimum use of the opportunity, he scored 62 in the fourth Test against the West Indies at Port-of-Spain and another fighting 39 in the final Test.

Vijay Mehra was a right-hand opener and useful off-spinner. Known for his steady batting, he studied at Hindu College and Panjab University. Swaranjit Singh Butt, a former cricketer and Cambridge blue, described Vijay an affable person and a dependable bat who scored heavily in the Ranji Trophy. Vijay had honed his cricketing skills in the early fifties under coach Prithviraj Billu, who had played for India.

Born in 1938, Vijay played for Punjab and North Zone in the national schools tournament. He represented Punjab in the Ranji Trophy and his two knocks of 40 and 96 against Delhi and Holkar, respectively saw his entry into the North Zone team. He scored 3,222 runs, including 10 centuries.

Vijay featured in the National Championship for Punjab, Railways and Delhi. He also served as a national selector for many years. He retired from the State Bank of India and started a cricket academy, besides being a commentator for the All India Radio.

Vijay played in the North Zone team against the West Indies at Gandhi Grounds here in 1959. Butt captained the North Zone which had star players Nari Contractor and Dattu Phadkar. Visitors had world greats Sir Garfield Sobers, Roy Gilchrist and Lance Gibbs in their ranks.

Prem Chopra, a local businessman recalled that Vijay was obsessed with cricket from the beginning. He also encouraged youngsters to take up the game. After joining the State Bank of India, Vijay shifted to Delhi, where he joined the Delhi District Association.

The much-hyped Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was criticised by Lok Morcha, an NGO. The NGO claimed that SEZ was “only a way to encourage real estate business”. This would benefit only rich businessmen and would ruin the already-suffering agricultural community, alleged the Lok Morcha office-bearers.

Stating this, Mr Narinder Kumar Jeet, president, Lok Morcha, Punjab, along with the Association for Democratic Rights (ADR), called upon the people to launch a movement against SEZ by highlighting its “disastrous” consequences.

Mr Jeet said that as per the Special Economic Zone Act, 2005, passed by the government, it had given 100 per cent income tax rebate for the first five years to the export-oriented units in the SEZ, and 50 per cent for the next five years, besides exemption from all types of other taxes.

He said that as per this act, the Factory, Labour and Minimum Wage Act would not be applicable in this zone. He said only the Development Commissioner nominated by the Central government would be authorised for inspection, which could lead to exploitation of the labour class.

Regarding the generation of employment, he said that there would only be transfer of employment from local industries of the state to the SEZ. There would be minimal generation of job opportunities, he claimed. He said the SEZ would only encourage capital-intensive industry and not labour-intensive industry.

He said only 25 per cent of land acquired by the government for establishing the SEZ was used for setting up industry, while the remaining area would be used for godowns, commercial and residential purposes.

In the city, many vehicles are being driven on LPG cylinders meant for domestic purposes. Besides endangering their own lives and those of others, the owners are flouting the rules laid down by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Sources reveal that those associated with the delivery of LPG cylinders have also started running their auto-rickshaws on them. The reason is that LPG is a cheaper alternative to petrol.

When contacted, Mr K.C Vashisht, Assistant Manager, IOC, said that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had issued directions in this regard. LPG cylinder weighing 14.2 kg was meant for domestic usage. However, its commercial usage such as in dhabas, restaurants, cafeteria, canteens, hostels, lodges, industries and others was prohibited. An offender was punishable under the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Control Order 2001. For non-domestic purposes, people were advised to use 19 kg LPG cylinders, he said.

He added that vehicle owners had also been advised not to use 14.2 kg domestic LPG as fuel since it was an offence under the Motor Vehicle Rules 2001.

He informed that his department had already sought the support of various departments in this regard for conducting joint raids.

Encroachments by shopkeepers are common in the city. These encroachments prove to be a traffic hazard. Ramesh Kumar, resident of Katra Dullo, said that his street was hardly six to eight feet wide and four sweets shops were located in it.

These shops spilled over to the street. The halwais had made makeshift hearths on the road.

This scenario is not restricted to only one street but also it can be observed in any market of the walled city.

Huge potholes on roads of Peer Shah and New Roop Nagar localities near Bhagtanwala are enough to give nightmares to commuters as well as residents, besides presenting a picture of complete apathy on part of authorities.

Complaints and pleas of residents to officials concerned and leaders of ruling party have fallen on deaf ears. Assurances were plenty, action was absent.

About 1500 residents live in these two localities and the road links New Roop Nagar to Roop Nagar. However, the ride is more than bumpy and takes a heavy toll on vehicles as well. Iron-cast automobiles suffer technical snags and patients and aged fall to serious health problems.

Residents of the area approached the MLA of the area, Mr Rajinder Singh Thekedar, for repair of the road.

He assured them of action but nothing happened. A meeting with the councilor of the ward produced the same result.

The condition turned from bad to worse since the work on the new sewerage started. Labourers broke the old sewerage pipes about 20 days back and did not return after that.

The holes big filled with rainwater, resulting in several accidents.

Only a big accident would spur the authorities into action, say residents.

When contacted Mr Sunil Dutti, Mayor, said he would direct the officials concerned to complete the sewerage work. After that the road would also be repaired, he added.

After the law and order situation in the holy city was criticised by social and political organisations, the district police has decided to install close-circuit cameras at strategic points, including religious shrines and tourist spots.

The ‘Polnet System’ will connect the city with state headquarters, which is further linked with New Delhi. In an interview, Mr S. S. Srivastava, SSP, said it would result in more effective policing.

Mr Srivastava said the close-circuit cameras would help in keeping a close watch on anti-social elements. This was important in view of perceived threats from terrorist organizations. The cameras would be monitored round-the-clock to identify criminals and flash their photographs in case of emergency.

The Mayor and other district authorities had given a positive response.

This would modernise the police as the criminals had progressed to high-tech gadgets to commit crime. Computerisation of police record was already on and the police would be able to gather and exchange information about gangsters and criminals.

Mr Srivastava, who took over as the district police chief about four months back, said the police was concerned about four factors resulting in enhanced crime rate, including drug menace, land disputes resulting from high land prices and traffic congestion.

The SSP said the police was working to catch the major distributors involved in drug network. He said they were increasing patrolling in the various colonies and notorious areas to create a sense of security among the people.

An eyesight testing and cataract surgery charitable camp was organised by Mr Harjit Singh Sidhu, an NRI and ex-chairman of the Market Committee of the village. Mr Sidhu is a kin of the famous Sikh warrior, Sardar Sham Singh Attari, who was a general in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Dr Rohit Parkash and his team examined more than seven hundred patients suffering from various eye ailments and distributed free medicines during the camp.

Mr Samarjit Singh Attari, the organiser of the camp, said more than 100 cataract surgeries of poor and needy would be done at Dr Rohit Sharma Eye Hospital as part of the camp. The expenses for these operations and medicines would be borne by Mr Sidhu. He said more medical camps would be organised in future.

He said a drug-de-addiction camp would also be organised at this border village to help the youth of the area get rid of the drug menace.